We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting a talk by renowned professor Lord Robert Winston this September.

Lord Winston, a highly-celebrated scientist, surgeon and television presenter, will be speaking about Innovation with Education at our Nuns Corner campus on September 16.

He will also officially open the new Humber Healthcare Academy at University Centre Grimsby, coinciding with the launch of our new BSc Nursing (Adult) degree in partnership with the University of Hull.

A Professor of Science and Society and Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College London, Lord Winston’s research led to the development of gynaecological microsurgery in the 1970s and improvements in reproductive medicine.

He is committed to scientific education and has presented landmark BBC series such as Your Life in Their Hands, Making Babies, The Secret Life of Twins, Child of Our Times and The Human Body, which won three BAFTA awards, an Emmy nomination and a Peabody award.

Speaking ahead of his visit, where he will give his perspective on child development and learning and the importance of experimenting in education, Lord Winston said: “Education is at a crossroads. The increasing intensity of GCSE and A Level syllabuses and the limitations of the curriculum need careful reappraisal. And the ability to grasp superficial information using various social media also risks limited education and a possibly illiterate generation.

“It is highly appropriate to think creatively about education in a modern democracy and this meeting is most timely.”

David Vickers, Associate Principal for Health, Wellbeing and Society, said the event aimed to motivate staff, students and industry professionals to experiment with innovative teaching and learning methods.

He added: “We are delighted to be welcoming such a high-profile speaker. This is just one of the many events that make University Centre Grimsby ‘no ordinary uni’, in every sense of the phrase.

“We are looking forward to what is anticipated to be a thought provoking and emotive key note talk that will challenge our thinking, beliefs and approaches.

“Lord Winston has a level of brilliance that is linked inherently to his lifelong dedication to research, medicine and understanding the development of children.

“As our own organisation begins its next step in the provision of healthcare qualifications by launching the BSc in Nursing, we will warmly invite Lord Winston to contribute to this process by officially opening the Humber LEP-funded Humber Healthcare Academy.”

If you are interested in attending the talk on September 16, please register your interest by emailing [email protected]

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new skills programme in collaboration with Anglian Water and its 12 alliance partners, providing a fully employer-supported multi-skill construction course.

This innovative pre-apprenticeship programme has been designed with the specific aim of attracting new talent into the utility sector and enabling learners to ultimately work for one of the Alliances’ companies as apprentices.

The majority of study in the year-long course will be held at the Grimsby Institute campus, delivered by college tutors through practical and theory-based sessions.

In addition to this, industry specialists from the Alliances will sponsor the programme “hands-on”, with specialist plant, materials, work experience and lectures, contributing to learning from day-one. An important element of the course is the work placement component with one or more of the Alliances’ partner companies.

All students who successfully complete the sponsored Level 2 Anglian Water Alliances Construction Programme will be guaranteed an interview for an apprenticeship with Anglian Water Alliances.

Matt Smith, Head of Construction at the Grimsby Institute, said: “This is excellent news for the Institute and a fantastic opportunity for learners who are interested in pursuing a career in construction. They’ll experience and develop a number of skills throughout the year so they can make an informed decision about their future pathway. A guaranteed interview for an apprenticeship after qualification is a very unique and valuable opportunity to develop their career further ‘on the job’.”

Dave Newsome, Collaborative Skills Manager for Anglian Water Alliances, said: “We are focused on building partnerships that will create opportunities for training learners with the vital skills and behaviours needed to meet industry skills shortages. We were impressed by the college’s existing provision, their academic teams and “can-do” approach to working with employers. We don’t want to sponsor a programme by simply putting our name to it, we want to be in there working side by side with our chosen providers. Together we’ll tackle some of the great challenges facing the water industry by teaching and educating future leaders in the field.”

We are one of three new colleges selected as part of an ambitious talent expansion programme, alongside Milton Keynes College and West Suffolk College. The initiative has already been successfully piloted through the College of West Anglia at Wisbech in support of an area of social need and to raise career aspirations. Through this success, Anglian Water is dedicated to creating more employment opportunities in other parts of the region.

We are already recruiting for the course, which will begin this September. See our website for more details.

We are delighted to announce we have been chosen as one of only 21 colleges in England to establish a new ‘Centre for Maths Excellence’ (C4ME).

This is a pioneering project brought about in response to Sir Adrian Smith’s review of post-16 maths education, which recommended improving GCSE maths re-sits for young people over the age of 16.

Emma Bell, GIFHE Maths Enhancement Manager and C4ME lead, said: “At GIFHE we aim to take a fresh look at maths education in the post-16 sector to help our learners achieve their very best in an inspirational environment. Maths can be a challenging topic for many young people but we aspire to help all our learners enjoy maths, overcome their barriers to success and develop the skills to thrive in work and life.”

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in October, Education Secretary Damian Hinds said many schools and colleges now excelled at teaching maths and English. “However, there is more to do,” he said, explaining that the new Centres for Excellence would “test and share new ways to teach students who are re-sitting their maths GCSE”.

GIFHE will be collaborating with other exceptional post-16 providers, universities and exam boards on this exciting journey with the aim of sharing outstanding practice and improving maths education nationwide.

The C4ME team at GIFHE have already begun to implement some project goals and, over the coming months, will be carrying out research and experimenting with new ideas, working towards the very best teaching and learning.

Principal Debra Gray said: “As an award-winning, outstanding college, we are proud to have been selected for this prestigious Centre for Maths Excellence. We believe in exploring new ideas to remove the fear of maths many people have and spark their interest and imagination in learning.”

Colleges are an essential part of England’s education system. We matter – to our learners, our staff and our local community. But for too long the vital work we do has been overlooked and underfunded. Over the last decade, colleges have had to deal with an average 30% funding cut, while costs have increased dramatically.

That is why trade unions, students and colleges are coming together to call for better funding and fair pay for further education colleges. The Love Our Colleges campaign is an opportunity to highlight the brilliant work that goes on in colleges, and the brilliant staff that make it all possible. It is also our opportunity to call on government for better investment in colleges, and fair pay for college staff.

Michelle Ward has progressed from a Level 2 in Performing Arts to a Level 4 Foundation Degree, after receiving “overwhelming” support and guidance. She aims to open a disability dance school for five to 15-year-olds. Here is her story.

“I first applied for a Level 2 Performing Arts course, with no idea of what I eventually wanted to do. I went to my audition feeling nervous as I have been out of education for many years. Two wonderful tutors, Angela and Stephanie, interviewed me and expressed their concerns about my academics, as they felt that I may not cope with the theory side of the course.

“They looked at putting me forward for an Access to Performing Arts course. However, after the initial interview, I was given a written task to do. I submitted this within the week and got called back in to say they discussed their concerns and how impressed they were with my written piece, and would like to offer me a place on the Level 2 Performing Arts course.

“From then, because they both believed in me, I was able to go from strength to strength and progress to Level 3. During my time on Level 3, I was a student rep and became the “mum” of the group. I had many opportunities to shine including entering and passing my LAMDA examination and working alongside West End cast members at local prestigious events. Towards the end of Level 3 Year 2, I was named as the “Student of the Year”. This was an amazing achievement for me personally, as I do have some learning challenges and as a mum of two children, I have been able to organise myself and manage my workload. With the support of such an amazing leadership team and the outstanding faculty, I have felt that I have already overcome so much in my self development.

“As part of my grades over the years here at the Grimsby Institute, I received a double grade distinction merit, which I never thought was possible, and I have passed my GCSE English too. I have successfully continued my studies into University Centre Grimsby, where I am currently studying a Level 4 Foundation Degree in Performing Arts, whilst engaging as an Arts Council Representative and a Student Representative. I have had some days where I have struggled, but the team are always there to put a smile back on my face and gave me that sense of belonging. They have always pushed me to better places and believed in me when I did not feel confident.

“The support and guidance I have received are overwhelming, I now know where I want to be in 5 years’ time, and I know that I have the backing of this faculty to allow me to fulfil my dream. My dream is to open a disability dance school within Grimsby for five to 15-year-olds, whether they are physically impaired, a wheelchair user or have learning challenges. This will incorporate the social aspects as well as mental health and wellbeing.

“So if you have no idea what to do next, your next stop should be at The Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education. Thanks to Associate Principal Emma Forrest-Leigh and her team, who work tirelessly day in and day out, the faculty and the team of staff and students is what it is.

“I believe that at the end of my course I can now go on to pastures new, knowing that I have been part of such an incredible establishment, right here in Grimsby. No words can describe how humble I feel every day when I pick up my bag and walk through the doors of the university and college.”